Weekly Disability Benefit
Weekly benefits are payble if you become totally disabled while you are an active employee who is eligible for Plan benefits. Weekly Disability Benefits are not provided for retirees, dependents, or employees covered under COBRA coverage.
Definition of “Total Disability”
For the purpose of these benefits “totally disabled” means that you are completely and continuously prevented from performing any and every duty of your occupation or employment, as certified by a medical doctor (M.D. or D.O. ONLY). You will only be considered totally disabled if and while you are under the care of a doctor. A disability which is due to maternity or pregnancy, or pregnancy-related conditions is considered a disability due to a sickness.
Amount of Benefits
The amount of the weekly benefit is $250. If you are disabled for a part of a week, you will receive one-seventh of that amount per day.
When Benefits Start
Benefits will begin on the eighth day of disability, counting from the day you first receive treatment for the disability.
Duration of Benefits
Weekly benefits are payable for up to 26 continuous weeks but not for more than 26 weeks for any one period of disability.
Successive periods of disability separated by less than two weeks of active continuous full-time employment are considered one period of disability unless the second disability is due to an injury or sickness entirely unrelated to the causes of the first disability and begins after you return to work for a participating employer on a full-time basis for one full day.
When Benefits Are Paid
The Fund Office issues Weekly Disability Benefit checks on the 12th and 24th of each month. If the 12th or 24th day of the month falls on a weekend or holiday, the checks will be issued the next following business day.
Weekly Disability Benefit Exclusions And Limitations
No payments will be made under this benefit for:
- Any disability resulting from sickness or accidental injury for which you are not under the direct care of a doctor (other than a chiropractor); or
- Any disability resulting from accidental injury or sickness for which you are entitled to benefits under any Workers’ Compensation Law, Occupational Diseases Law, or similar law, or which arises out of or in the course of any employment for compensation, wages, or profit.
- Any period of time during which you are receiving compensation from your employer. Disability eligibility is contingent on the member not receiving unemployment compensation, vacation pay, etc.
The Fund must withhold certain taxes from your weekly benefits. You should consult a competent tax advisor regarding further tax obligations with respect to receipt of Weekly Disability Benefits.